Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama and Card Captor Sakura, especially each anime's characters. Iwase Kumiko-san, Yasuhiro-kun, Maeda Hideki-san and the Reverie Café are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or places are unintentional and coincidental.
Author's Note: This story is not a crossover fanfiction regardless of Daidouji Tomoyo's and Hiiragizawa Eriol's occasional appearances.
Enjoy reading.
The Sadist of Seigaku
Chapter 11: Reconstruction
The rushing sound of water coming from a faucet is suddenly quieted by a squeaky turn of the knob. His hands lingering on the rounded piece of metal for a while, Tezuka breathes a sigh of frustration he has been controlling for the past few hours.
It is eerily quiet inside the clubroom and he has just finished taking a shower. He is supposed to go home in a few minutes, but his gut tells him otherwise.
It is Thursday today, and tomorrow will be a Friday. He is actually looking forward to a good weekend, but he thinks he might not have it this time around.
Okay, so maybe he is quite serious with his school work and other activities, but that does not mean he does not wish for a few days of rest.
He breathes another sigh before wiping his face dry with a hand towel. Packing his belongings inside his duffel bag, he walks out of the dressing room and into the main area of the club room…
…only to have his breath hitched for the second time that day.
During club practice, he had that foreboding feeling that something was wrong with the worried look gracing Oishi, the grim face of Inui and surprisingly, the stiff-faced Fuji with his eyes waging a winning war against the icebergs of Antarctica.
He did not need any book to tell him that the prodigy was greatly upset.
Now, seeing his friend, each elbow resting on his knees and a dry bath towel covering mostly the upper half of his body, Tezuka cannot help but be reminded of what had transpired in the same clubroom that distressed the three.
And he has to admit, too, that he is actually disturbed with what is going on right now.
Meanwhile, Fuji fists both hands as he can feel his insides twisting in absolute frustration – and guilt.
Ah, that's it. He cannot deny that he is so guilty with what he did, but he cannot help but feel twice as frustrated when Sakuno found it all out.
He did not even had the chance to defend himself and the last thing he wants to happen is to have her fleeing from him without hearing his side of the story.
A burning feeling rises in his chest and he makes a sound, short of some growl, as he controls his emotions when he feels Tezuka's presence. He has almost forgotten that he is not alone in the clubroom.
The last thing he wants right now is a lecture, and he does not want a verbal assault for Tezuka as a take-out gift tonight.
The heavy feeling in his chest is reduced when the stoic captain keeps quiet, all the while sitting on a bench right in front of Fuji. He did not see it, but with the bath towel covering his eyes, his senses have been heightened that he can even take note of every movement around him.
Silence reigns in the room for a good number of minutes. Somehow, the prodigy is quite thankful that of all the friends he has, the silent but steady presence of Tezuka Kunimitsu is the one left behind.
He can begin trusting himself to talk again, even for a short while.
"I messed it all up, Tezuka…" Fuji trails, somehow relieved of the tension growing in him.
Tezuka nodded his assent, though he is not sure whether Fuji saw it or not because the towel still covers his body and his head is bent low.
He may be quiet and serious, but Tezuka knows how it is to have a friend and value someone. He may not have seriously fought with his friends but he has seen a few friendly relationships grow cold because of one person, or both. Time and distance can heal the wounds but they can never bring back what has been lost.
Tezuka squares his jaw as a realization dawns on him.
Ryuzaki Sakuno must be very important to Fuji for him to get frustrated like this.
Fuji looks even worse right now compared to the time he lost a game to Shiraishi Kuranosuke.
Heaving another sigh, he realizes that this may be the reason why his gut told him not to go home right away. Fuji has spent most of his life protecting all those precious to him, and he has not failed, ever – except for this time.
And most tragic part of all is that the prodigy is the cause of the pain
That is when Tezuka knew he has to do something.
"She deserves to know the truth," he carefully begins, watching with observant eyes how Fuji stiffened at the sound of his voice.
The prodigy sits straight, the bath towel dropping to the ground. "What truth?"
"Everything."
Yes, everything. That means he has to face Sakuno and tell her all that he had planned and all that he wants right now.
Quite easy to say…very difficult to do
Now that his friend is meeting his gaze, Tezuka can see the blue void of his eyes, stiff shoulders and shallow breathing – all signs of him controlling his emotions that are far from positive and pleasant.
"Try not to perceive what she is going to say and do," Tezuka continues, silently encouraging his friend not to prolong the confrontation between him and Sakuno. Maybe now is not yet the right time to discuss things with Sakuno, as she is most likely sorting things herself too. Then again, in Tezuka's strategic mind, letting a day go by without Fuji clearing his side of the story will only mislead the poor girl, and eventually hurt them both.
Tezuka knew he would have to push Fuji to look for Sakuno in an hour or so.
The last time the prodigy prolonged a confrontation, he ended up hurting himself and Fuji Yuuta.
"But if she does not want to do anything with me," Fuji trails, warily watching Tezuka's reaction to his statement. "I would have to let her be," he finishes, a defeated tone evident in his voice.
The captain looks straight at him.
"If that is needed."
Iwase Kumiko stops kneading the dough she has been working on when the clattering sound of a fork against a mixing bowl stops abruptly. She turns to her left side, only to find her beloved apprentice unmoving, the bowl tilted to an awkward angle.
Then, a single tear drop falls a few inches from the mixing bowl and on to the stainless steel workplace of the kitchen.
"I think you need some rest, Sakuno-chan," she begins, taking the kitchen utensils from her apprentice's hands.
"Ah, no, no…" Sakuno immediately turns to her teacher, trying her best to wipe the tears flowing from her eyes. "Ano, I'm fine, Iwase-san," she says as she moves her things away from her teacher's grasps and roughly proceeds with her task.
The soft sniffs only hardened Iwase Kumiko's resolve.
"Sakuno-chan."
Sakuno stiffens at the voice that emitted from the woman. She knew she was being stubborn, but she did not want to escape her tasks for the day. If she is in some drama right now, that drama would have to go to the background in the meantime as her tasks are of importance as well.
Besides, she promised herself that she won't be a weakling anymore.
Then again, Iwase-san just made her look like a child being reprimanded by her parent. Sweet and innocent Sakuno did not have the guts to even fight that.
She bites her lower lip as she puts down the utensils, all the while avoiding eye contact with her teacher.
Iwase sighs a frustrated one. She did not mean to scare the little lady in front of her, but she knew Sakuno can be headstrong at times. Taking a few steps, she gathers her student in her arms in a motherly embrace.
"Escaping your problems won't do you any good," she begins, her left hand resting at the back of her apprentice's head. She can feel Sakuno relax in her embrace.
"Besides, crying is not always a sign of weakness," she finishes firmly, her lips stretching to a sad smile as she feels her student tremble from fighting a flood of fresh tears.
"Iwase-sa-"
The tender moment is sent to an abrupt halt when the door bursts open to reveal one of the kitchen staffs.
"Oh…ah…" the young man scratches an invisible itch at the back of his head, quite embarrassed to find himself disturbing a very parent-child moment inside the kitchen.
Most of her staff knows that Iwase Kumiko has treasured the young auburn-head girl from Seigaku as her own child.
"What is it, Yasuhiro-kun?" Iwase asks, her hands still keeping Sakuno in her embrace, which the girl is quite thankful of because then, no one will see her tear-stricken face during business hours.
"Er…a client is outside, looking for you. She said you were her classmate back in your university days," he replies.
"Tell her I'll be out in a minute."
A nod from the staff later, the two are left alone again. Iwase has pulled away and is now wiping her apprentice's face with her handkerchief. "I'll just talk with her for a while, Sakuno-chan," she says while patting the girl's auburn head.
Sakuno meekly nods her assent as she watches her teacher leave the room.
Poking the stainless mixing bowl on the countertop, Sakuno releases a breath of relief. She is quite thankful that the sweet woman let her cry her heart out without asking too much details. In all honesty, she does not know how to start sorting things out.
A constricting and warm feeling fills her chest as fragments of what she heard a while ago flash through her head.
I think Fuji's intention with the whole ordeal is to befriend Ryuzaki-chan so Echizen would get jealous to a point where he would admit his feelings for her
Those were the words of Inui-senpai. She would have sided with her brown-haired senpai but the grim look she saw gracing Inui's features after they found her presence revealed the worst.
She feels betrayed at the very least.
Feeling a drop of tear slide along her right cheek, she heaves a heavy sigh in an effort to control her emotions. Late tonight, she would mourn her loss, cry her heart out and then sort things out. That's right. Ryuzaki Sakuno planned what she would do a little while when she gets home.
In reality though, she still wants to hear the truth from Fuji…
…but not right now.
A big part of her tells her she is not yet ready to confront anyone from Seigaku.
Wiping her face with the back of her hand, Sakuno dumps the forsaken mixture to the waste bin. She stacks the kitchen utensils she had used minutes ago to the kitchen sink, when a soft knock on the door disrupts the silence in the room.
"The door's open," she says, quite proud that she said it in a very neutral manner.
She actually did not pay attention to the person who entered, all the while thinking that it is some other kitchen staff. She proceeds to wash the dishes, but a nagging feeling is rising in her chest again.
She drops the fork she has been washing to the sink when she feels the other person's presence very near her.
The moment she turns and looks up, Sakuno froze.
Momoshiro Takeshi takes a last sip of his grape Ponta before throwing the aluminum tin can to the trash bin a few feet from him.
And Momoshiro scores another point, he humorously tells himself with a sly smirk gracing his face.
A few seconds later, he takes a glance at his wristwatch, giving out a low whistle in the process.
"What is taking her so long?"
He is supposed to meet Tachibana An at the tennis court by the park but the usually punctual An is late by five minutes. He actually made an effort to get to their meeting place as early as he can because the last time he came late, he had to pay for an early but unsatisfying dinner for both of them.
He shifts his duffel bag to his left side and stretches his right arm.
The urge to create a tirade right then and there is disrupted by the loud smash of some thing against another thing.
That actually sounds like a tennis ball hitting a wall, he muses. And by the sound of the smash, it can actually rival the sound his signature move makes.
Eh? Momoshiro pouts to himself, debating whether to leave for a moment or just wait for An. The thing is, he loves tennis so much that more than half of himself is leaning on to the first option.
Momoshiro Takeshi did not waste a thousand fights against his tennis-loving self.
It took only a few steps to find the source of the banging sound, and he is quite unsurprised to find out who has been causing that.
If it isn't the tennis prince himself, he muses again, somehow with enough presence of mind not to shout the name of his kohai who, at that particular moment, does not look so friendly at all.
Momoshiro furrows his brows as a thought passes his head. He may not be the smartest tool in the Seigaku toolbox but he is not dumb. He knows something is wrong the moment he saw most of his senpais with grief written all over their faces. And, that thought was only strengthened when he saw Echizen Ryoma marching like a madman outside the school grounds the moment practice ended.
Perhaps the prince heard Ryuzaki-chan's name and that of some other boy in the same sentence.
"That's actually quite probable if I'd give it a thought," he quietly tells himself.
He watches Echizen attack the wall with remaining tennis ball with all the force needed to execute his Cyclone Smash. It is actually a recurring scene in Momoshiro's head: baseball cap-wearing kohai smashes as many tennis balls as he can whenever he gets jealous. It's quite pathetic actually, but hey, someone has to understand the tennis prince who has spent most of his life on one thing: tennis. The thought of something – someone – invading his long-time set priorities is certainly confusing and may cause damage to the person if not properly guided.
Scratching his head in frustration, Momoshiro decides to talk to his kohai the moment the younger player calms down.
Some brotherly talk, yeah.
Sakuno bites the inside of her right cheek in a huge effort to stop herself from making a choking sound.
And of all people, it had to be him.
Fuji solemnly examines his favorite kohai's brown eyes widen like that of a doe's. If anything, her face would have drawn an impish smile from him and make his insides warm all over – but not now.
Fear and panic are clearly written all over Sakuno's face.
Fuji mightily wanted to remove them, but that would mean he would have to leave her. Because I am the source of all fear and panic.
Then again, he has no plans of leaving the kitchen room any moment, not when he fought tooth and nail with the café's personnel to be able to enter an "Authorized Room Only" lair – all without Iwase-san's assistance.
"Ano…I'm quite busy, Fuji-senpai," Sakuno nervously begins, trying her best not to stutter and hide her discomfort. "P-please leave the room."
The contours of the prodigy's face soften a bit at her words but the hard glint in his eyes told her he is not going anywhere; that he's not buying her excuse at all. If he were a more sensitive and prouder person, he would have been hurt by her last statement – she's actually telling him to leave. But he is Fuji Syuusuke. He knows that Sakuno said that because she is agitated.
He takes a step closer to her.
Frozen to the spot, the auburn-haired girl bites her lower lip, wide eyes seeking out her senpai's intentions.
She told him off even when he did not even say the reason he came here. If the situation were different, he would have teased her further, but until now, he has been communicating with her through his eyes only – no words at all. She realized then that this certain senpai has a domineering side he has been trying to control for her.
He is giving her some space of her own without giving up a confrontation.
Fuji-senpai is acting like the gentleman he really is.
A tear slides through her right cheek and it took a lot of Fuji's willpower to stop himself from gathering his kohai in his arms.
"Why?" She asked, voice deceptively firm despite her tears.
"I wanted to explain."
Sakuno nods limply, wrapping her arms around herself before heaving a sigh. "I heard something from Inui-senpai and Oishi-senpai," she begins, looking at him straight in the eye. "Is it true?"
…Fuji's intention with the whole ordeal is to befriend Ryuzaki-chan so Echizen would get jealous to a point where he would admit his feelings for her
Fuji did not hear what Inui and Oishi said exactly, but he knows what Sakuno is talking about. "Yes, that's the first truth," he quietly answers, bracing himself for whatever Sakuno will do or tell.
He is surprised and greatly worried when she just looks at the floor and keeps quiet for a long while.
If Fuji had a say on how this conversation would go, he would do much of the talking. Then again, that would appear as if he were manipulating her. In her fragile state, the last thing Fuji wants Sakuno to think of is that he is just toying with her.
For her, he will adjust and go with her pace.
"Why did you do it?"
Ah…the million dollar question. The apparent reason is actually in Inui's statement already: he wants Echizen to get jealous. Sakuno, however, is not stupid. She may not be the smartest kid in class, but she has a good head on her shoulders.
Another way to translate the question: Why did you want Echizen to get jealous?
Fuji is silent for a while, somehow starting to get drowned at the brown orbs looking expectantly at him. The answer is very pathetic, actually. Just to have fun, because a jealous Echizen is like an exciting episode of a tennis game to watch.
Something warm fills the prodigy's gut, and he knew right then and there how sick that reason is.
After a few seconds, he snaps himself awake and takes three bold steps to Sakuno.
His kohai gasps as he closes the distance between them.
She takes a step back and Fuji did not have any qualms in hiding the disappointment that etched his face.
"You did not answer my question, senpai," Sakuno points out.
"Because the reason is not important," Fuji replies, taking a step closer to her and raising his left hand to caress her right cheek.
His heart is quite glad when she did not protest.
Sakuno unconsciously leans on the touch of the warm hand. "But knowing it is important to me, senpai," she drawls, bowing her head at the same time.
He caresses her cheek a last time before dropping his hand to his side. "It's actually sick, Sakuno-chan," he says, chuckling bitterly. "It's really, really sick. I wouldn't want you to know it."
Before a hurt look graces her beautiful face, Fuji cups her face with both hands. "Another truth is much more important than that," he begins, tracing the curve of her left cheek to reduce the feeling of nervousness churning in his gut.
"I regret hurting you with this, but I'll never be sorry for the fact that I have you as a friend."
Sakuno's eyes widen at the sincere confession, a thousand emotions raging inside her. She was wallowing in self-pity for letting her self be played with, but looking at the intense blue eyes of this brown-haired senpai, Sakuno can't help but lose her breath from the shock of it all.
Fuji-senpai may have hurt her, but he is really sorry about it.
Emotional walls crumbling, Sakuno makes a choking sound to which Fuji immediately reacts to by re-cupping his hands on her face. She, however pries his hands away from her.
He felt as if a ton of bricks were hauled on him, only to be surprised a second later when Sakuno buries herself in his arms.
Half-stunned and half-amazed, Fuji firmly wraps his arms around his kohai who started to sob her heart out.
She paced the expanse of the living hall for the fourth time that night.
It is already half an hour past seven in the evening but her precious granddaughter is not home yet.
To say that Ryuzaki Sumire is worried is the understatement of the century.
She is actually really ready to call Tezuka Kunimitsu and the police authorities to rake the whole of Seishun City.
Ryuzaki-sensei nearly jumps when she hears her mobile phone ringing.
"Hello, Ryuzaki Sumire speaking."
Noise is unusually absent at the other end of the line and it isn't helping Ryuzaki-sensei's jumpy self.
"Good evening, Ryuzaki-san," a pleasant voice begins.
The aged Seigaku coach blinks. "Tomoyo-chan? Ah, good evening," she rattles. "Is Sakuno-chan with you?"
The other line is silent for a while, but the coach took it as a cause of a weak signal. "Oh, yes. She's with me, Ryuzaki-san. I called to tell you that. We just had a little talk, that's all. We'll be home past eight at the latest," Tomoyo good-naturedly explains.
An "OK" and a few seconds later, Ryuzaki Sumire finishes off the conversation and hangs up the phone before plopping on the nearby couch in relief. All the while, her dear granddaughter is in the Reverie Café doing her usual tasks and some small talk – as Tomoyo has said.
And knowing the sweet and polite Daidouji Tomoyo, Ryuzaki Sumire did not have any reason to worry about Sakuno anymore – especially when the dark-haired girl offered to drive Sakuno all the way home.
Rubbing her temples to relieve herself of the stress, the coach leans on the couch.
I must be getting that old.
Tomoyo flashes a peace sign to the proprietress who anxiously waits for her to finish the call with Sakuno's grandmother. Iwase, as well as the staff at the back of the counter, releases a sigh of relief.
The last thing they want to think about right now is a very worried grandmother with long pinkish hair.
"That's very good news," Iwase voices out. "Let's see off this night," she finishes, a firm instruction to her staff to continue with their work.
When all but she remains standing near the kitchen door, Tomoyo releases a disappointed sigh she has been controlling for the past few hours since she arrived at the café.
At around six in the evening, she saunters to the Reverie and asks for Sakuno-chan's whereabouts. The grim faces of the staff and the distraught look in Iwase-san's face made her heart plunge to the depths of her stomach. That was when she realized something is wrong with Sakuno-chan.
A thousand worried gazes at the kitchen door later, she finds herself looking at one of the most beautiful scenes in her life when it flew open:
The handsome Fuji Syuusuke carrying her lovely and innocent best friend in his arms.
So-called Seigaku prodigy carried her best friend all the way to Iwase-san's office.
Oh how she wished she had her trusty digital camera at that moment!
Heaving another disappointed sigh, she sneaks in to Iwase-san's office and proceeds to open the door.
She has already taken her mobile phone with a high-quality digital camera, ready to take a video of what she is seeing right now.
An afterthought, however, causes her to keep the techie thing inside her school bag.
Daidouji Tomoyo may be known to be quite cunning about anything to do with her best friend. From manipulation to downright confrontation, she can do it all. Then again, she is a grown young lady and she knows she must be rather polite when necessary.
Seated comfortably at one of the couches inside the proprietress' office, Fuji has Sakuno on his lap. Her head is resting on the left part of his chest and her legs dangling across his right thigh.
Tomoyo tenderly smiles as she takes note of the protective arms the prodigy has on Sakuno: his left around her waist and his right securing her head to his chest. Both look asleep but she knows that it is only Sakuno – who has cried herself to sleep. Fuji, on the other hand, has his chin resting on top of his kohai's head.
A few seconds later, Tomoyo leaves them be and proceeds to help with whatever task there is Iwase-san has for her.
Meanwhile, Fuji visibly relaxes as the door to the office closes. The dark-haired friend of his kohai is quite the scheming young lady she is, but he is thankful that she has kept any recording devices away from his and Sakuno's faces.
He pulls Sakuno closer to him – if that were even possible – and starts to absent-mindedly caress her long auburn locks.
How she really amazes him is something he cannot get tired of.
She forgave him even before the words "I'm sorry" were drawn from his mouth.
She even talked about giving him a fresh start, not just a second chance.
While he is quite wary of starting all over again, he is simply glad that he is forgiven. Besides, the point of beginning is relative.
Sakuno meant that they will start as friends who are starting to get to know each other.
For some, it may seem like a game of pretend. In reality, however, that is where they really are, even before the whole revelation thing started. Now that they are through with it, both are willing to let it go and start anew as friends, although Fuji has admitted to himself not so long ago that he likes Sakuno in a not-so-platonic way.
But his romantic inclinations to his kohai would have to wait.
They are in the process of rebuilding the foundations of their new-found friendship formerly threatened by his devious ways…
…but he will gain her affection slowly but surely.
An elegant black car makes a dramatic halt outside the gated house of the Ryuzakis'. The aged Seigaku coach blinks at the sight of the car, not because of its elegant gait but because of who came out of it.
After a good number of ladies wearing black suits came out, Fuji Syuusuke slowly emerges from the car, with her granddaughter in his arms.
In his arms…
Although quite advanced for a tennis club's coach, Sumire has still her eyes well and good. Squinting to get a good look of Sakuno, with only the aid of the outdoor lamppost and several outdoor lights from their house, she finds herself more happy than disconcerted.
Sakuno is sleeping peacefully. She's safe, and that's all that matters.
Then again, she cannot help but worry a little bit.
The image of Fuji and Sakuno drawn in her mind is something she wants to deal with a good light years from now. Nevertheless, she holds the gate open for him and Tomoyo, leads them inside the house and assists the prodigy in laying her granddaughter on her bed.
It is a quiet scene all together. No one uttered a word. Tomoyo offered her generous smiles while she kept herself busy with making her granddaughter comfortable.
Once assured that Sakuno is well, Sumire straightens herself and faces the two guests, only to find her brown-haired student still gazing at her granddaughter's sleeping form.
"Fuji."
Said prodigy blinks at her. "Hai, Sumire-chan?"
Putting her hands on her hips, she breathes out, irritated at the way Fuji just called her.
The young man is quite lucky she is feeling generous right now.
"How about some tea downstairs?" She offers to the two.
Before the two young people can protest, she has them out of Sakuno's room and walking towards the dining area where a pot of tea and a tray of cookies are found. Tomoyo volunteers to serve tea while she seeks out the pantry for more cookies to eat.
While at the pantry, her thoughts are occupied with the look she has seen on Fuji while she tucked her granddaughter to sleep.
It was the look her son gives his wife whenever he watches her sleep.
Fuji shifts the strap of his duffel bag on left shoulder as he walks along the sidewalk near a park. Fingering the details of the strap, he smiles tenderly in memory of what had transpired through the day. Things may have started roughly for them, especially for Sakuno, but he is glad that even before the day ends, he has received Sakuno's forgiveness.
He couldn't be any happier.
Putting his left hand in his left pocket, he slows down his steps when he makes out a figure of a person at a distance.
Said person wears a very distinct baseball cap and a huge duffel bag that used to be almost his size.
"Took you time to get here."
Fuji squares his jaw at the comment.
"I am not aware you've been waiting for me."
Echizen squints at the retort but nonchalantly dismisses it as he heads to the nearest tennis court.
While the tennis prince did not utter a single word, Fuji is quick to read the young man's actions.
It is a silent invitation to a fight.
Fuji instantly recognizes the tennis court the moment he takes in its surroundings. It is the one Oishi and Eiji were playing at when he and Sakuno accidentally bumped into them. Dropping his duffel bag at the bench facing his side of the court, he watches as Echizen tests the strings of one of his rackets before positioning himself a few feet from the baseline.
He wants to serve first, Fuji muses. Numerous strategies immediately run through his mind as he also positions himself. While a foreboding feeling is, again, rising in his chest, he turns to observe the raging fire in Echizen's eyes.
He unconsciously grits his teeth as the first year attacks with a knuckle serve.
A few good minutes later, the game starts to drag with the two players locked in a violent rally – violent because they are exerting more force in returning the tennis ball. Echizen's chest is heaving with some controlled emotion while Fuji is struggling to read the first year's next move.
The prodigy can feel the adrenaline rush from his gut to his chest and he grips the handle of his racket tighter.
Suddenly, Fuji makes an accidental lob which Echizen takes as an opportunity to return it with his powerful cyclone smash. Quite sure that Fuji will execute the infamous bear drop, he skids to the back part of the court the moment his feet lands on the ground. To his surprise, Fuji jumps back, lands on the baseline and meets the smash with an equally powerful rising shot.
A cord ball.
Too stunned, Echizen is unable to run after the ball as it lands a few inches from the net before bouncing itself away.
The two players remain frozen on their spot, both breathing heavily from their violent exercise. Fuji grimaces at how his joints are screaming madly at him for working them without a proper warm up exercise. Echizen, on the other hand, can feel his knees wobbling. Now that he has stopped, he realized he has exercised too much tonight, his body might not even cooperate with him tomorrow morning.
Slowly, he lets go of his racket, unwary of how it easily slipped from his hand to the cold and hard ground.
In a matter of seconds, he, too, collapses to a sitting position on the ground, his head buried between his legs.
Fuji watches with disappointed eyes as his kohai slumps to the ground. There goes their long-awaited match. Then again, this match isn't even a match at all. It is some lame excuse to release all of their pent-up emotions to each other.
Right now, he's actually thankful that Tezuka Kunimitsu is not with them. The stoic captain will have their heads the moment he finds out that two of the top players in Seigaku played a violent tennis match just to release their frustration on each other.
"Is it true," Echizen drawls, a pause intended to warn the prodigy to take him seriously, "that you played with Sakuno to make fun of me?"
Fuji grits his teeth yet again to stop whatever sort of retort he has already formed.
"Are you asking that for Sakuno's sake or yours?"
Echizen ignores that he and Fuji are now referring to Sakuno only by her given name.
"You're not answering the question."
Fuji did not answer immediately. Instead, he walks to the net, jumps on it to reach the other side where Echizen is slumped on the ground. When he is standing a foot from where his kohai his sitting, he kneels in front of him.
"I actually did," Fuji starts, somehow amazed at the way Echizen's shoulders stiffened. "But I think that does not matter to you." Seeing no reaction from his kohai, he takes it as an encouragement to continue. "You're used to all of us making fun of each other," he quietly finishes.
"You are angry because Sakuno got involved."
Echizen grits his teeth hard and he felt as though his teeth will break at the force with which he is doing it.
The prodigy actually hit a very tender spot he is not yet ready to discuss.
And talk about having to discuss it with a so-called rival.
"Don't toy with her!" He hissed.
Fuji's blue eyes flash, recognizing the passion in the first year's words. Bowing his head to hide his smirk, he stands up, towering a good height above Echizen.
"I'm not playing with her. She knows that now," he begins, eyes hard and intense against the fiery ambers of the first year.
"She's important to me."
Echizen's eyes widen at the revelation. Though the sentence was quietly said, he can still feel the weight and the sincerity of Fuji's words.
They were a hard slap to his face.
Fisting both his hands, he glares at the retreating back of the prodigy.
He has to get over this stage of denial because in reality…
"She is important to me, too".
Practice went well that day, Tezuka contemplates, as he turns off the faucet inside the clubroom's wash area. Wiping his face with a dry hand towel, he wears his eye glasses and combs back his hair with his right hand.
He is quite unsure but there seems to be a smile at the edge of his lips the moment he looks at himself in the mirror.
"Woohoo!!!"
The door flies open and the stoic captain cringes when it hits the adjacent wall with a loud bang.
In comes red-headed Kikumaru Eiji who stops dead in his tracks upon seeing the person inside.
He swallowed half of himself right then and there.
Tezuka blinks curiously at him.
"Ah! Ehehehehe…." He embarrassedly chuckles, squirming like a five year old in the presence of Tezuka.
"Oishi will be treating you."
Kikumaru blinks at the knowing face of his captain and mutely nods at him. "He'll also treat Inui, Fuji and Ochibi," he adds, regaining some of his ground. "You will come with us, too!"
Tezuka raises an elegant brow at the statement. It was more of an order, but well, thinking about it, there's no harm in joining his teammates for a little treat after club activity. Grabbing his duffel bag, he exits the wash area, leaving Kikumaru with a firm but friendly pat on the shoulder.
After a few minutes, the six regulars exit the clubroom with the intent of going to their favorite café. Tezuka and Inui are discussing some matters about the prefectural timetable. Kikumaru is strangling Echizen with Oishi playing as arbiter.
Taking a furtive glance to his right, Tezuka notices Fuji smiling to himself.
He gives Inui a nod, excusing himself from their conversation.
But before he reaches the prodigy, he stops on his tracks upon hearing the excited scream of Kikumaru.
"Sakuno-cccchhhhaaaaannnnnn!!!"
Fuji blinks at the squeak that came out from Sakuno upon receiving a bear hug from Eiji.
Echizen audibly growls.
All five listen as Kikumaru invites Sakuno to their little gathering. The auburn-head turns to Tezuka before turning to Oishi.
"You're always welcome to join us," he says with an amiable smile.
Tezuka nods affirmatively.
Sakuno blinks a few times before nodding absent-mindedly. She does not have duties at the café today but she has always insisted on visiting Iwase-san and her friendly crew after school hours. At least she will not be going there all by herself.
Before Kikumaru drags her away with him, she catches Fuji gazing at her.
She gives him a child-like smile.
As the gang resumes their walk to the café, Tezuka walks beside Fuji who knowingly smiles at him.
"I take it that it went well?"
Fuji did not miss the captain's whispered question, knowing well what he is talking about. With intense blue eyes, he watches Sakuno give Echizen a soft and shy smile.
"Yeah," he drawls, joy and contentment evident in the single word reply.
Tezuka stays quiet thereafter, but Fuji can sense the approving look on his best friend's face.
The two are lagging behind the rather rowdy group of young people. Tezuka is just content with walking in silence while Fuji is just happy with how the day is going to end.
"Sakuno-chan is a beautiful person, isn't she?"
Tezuka blinks questioningly at Fuji, who did not even bother to look at him.
"She's a very beautiful person, inside and out," Fuji finishes with conviction as he tenderly gazes at his favorite kohai.
He actually isn't expecting any answer from his friend, but the moment Tezuka replies, he does not know whether to be pleased or be utterly surprised.
"Yes. She is."